2019 Hill Country land stewardship conference set for April 25-26

The Hill Country has its own special needs when it comes to managing livestock and wildlife and incorporating the millions of individuals who come to vacation, hunt and relax in the ranching environments.

The sixth annual Hill Country Land Stewardship Conference hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service offers a chance for landowners in the region to learn more about addressing issues that arise when ranching and tourism combine, said Dr. Larry Redmon, AgriLife Extension program leader, College Station.

“We keep coming back and offering speakers on everything from grazing to prescribed fire and legal issues to wildlife management because our clientele in the region say they want to learn more,” Redmon said.

The 2019 conference will be held April 25-26 at the YO Ranch Hotel and Conference Center in Kerrville. On-site registration, check-in and breakfast begin at 7:30 a.m. April 25 at the Y.O. Ranch Hotel, 2033 Sidney Baker St. The program will begin at 8:30 a.m.

The conference fee is $75 and includes all meals, break refreshments and tour transportation costs. Registration is now open and preregistration will be available through April 15 at agriliferegister.tamu.edu/bennetttrustor 979-845-2604.

Redmon said several speakers will offer insight on some of the less-thought-of aspects of ranching or land ownership.

The second day of the conference will be dedicated to tours. Attendees will pick from tours of the Hillingdon Ranch in Kendall County, where legacy management will be discussed, or the Cimarron Ranch in Kerr County, where wildlife management will be the topic.

Participants at the 2018 Bennett Trust Land Stewardship Conference in Kerrville learned about different animal tracks from Annalise Scoggins from Texas Parks and Wildlife. (TAMU Soil and Crop Sciences photo by Beth Ann Luedeker)